EDISON, N.J. – Recent Marist graduate Kate Conard (East Setauket, N.Y.) of the women’s swimming and diving team has been named the 2012-13 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Female Student-Athlete of the Year. She is the second consecutive Marist student-athlete to receive the award, following Corielle Yarde of the women’s basketball team last season.

“Being named the MAAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year is such an incredible honor, and it is so nice to be recognized for hard work and dedication in the pool and classroom,” Conard said. “I was so fortunate to have been part of a team with such wonderful teammates who support each other through each practice and who also have the same determination in the classroom. I am also grateful for the support of my coaches who have always motivated me in and out of the pool. I love having a positive influence on others which was one of my drives as a student-athlete.”

Conard, who ended her career at Marist as one of the Red Foxes’ most decorated swimmers ever, was a three-time MAAC Championship Swimmer of the Year. Conard holds Marist records in four relay events, and seven individual events, and won 11 of 12 individual events and 14 of 16 relays she competed in at the MAAC Championships. She holds MAAC Championship individual records in the 500-yd, 1,000-yd and 1,650-yd freestyles.

A two-year captain for the Red Foxes, Conard was named the Marist Female Sportsperson of the Year at the senior awards banquet in April and was also named to the Capital One Academic All-America At-Large Third Team, becoming just 17th Marist student-athlete to earn the distinction. A Psychology/Special Education major, Conard was a three-time MAAC All-Academic team selection and was twice named to the Academic All-District First Team. She worked with the Special Olympics and Girls Scouts, and was also a Sunday School Teacher during her career.

"Kate Conard has always exemplified the true definition of a successful student-athlete. Her dominance in the pool and classroom is a brilliant reflection of the power of mind, body and spirit."

Most recently, Conard was nominated for the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, which honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. She is one of just 214 Division I student-athletes, and 455 overall, to be nominated. The top 10 honorees and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II and III and the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year will be honored at a dinner in Indianapolis October 20, 2013.

"Congratulations to Kate Conard for her outstanding athletic and academic careers, as this award recognizes the best of the best," Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray said. "Our student-athletes and coaches to continue to validate high-level Division I athletics combined with excellent academics."

Overall, Conard is the fifth student-athlete from Marist to be named the MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year. Rachele Fitz (2009-10) and Alisa Kresge (2006-07) of the women’s basketball team are the two other female recipients and David Bennett (2002-03) of the men’s basketball program is the Red Foxes’ lone male recipient.

About The MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year AwardThe MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award began in 2001 as a means to recognize overall excellence in the classroom, on the playing field and in the community. Each MAAC member selected one male and one female nominee for the honor. Nominees must have at least a 3.2 overall grade point average, be in at least their second year of residence at the institution, and be a starter or important reserve on their team.